Volleyball

The Lady Knights volleyball team did it once again this season, and this time in dramatic fashion. The scene was set on the afternoon of November 30, for an AISA grudge match between Macon East and the Edgewood Wildcats, but no one could have predicted the sweep. After losing to Edgewood three times in the 2018 regular season, the Lady Knights dominated the Wildcats to easily reclaim the state title in just 3 sets. Macon East has carried the title of AISA AA State Champions in Volleyball seven times since 2011, losing in the title game once in 2016. It has become routine for Macon East volleyball to not only contend for the title, but take home the trophy. However, it wasn’t all easy this season. The senior players will tell you that the loss early in the fall at Glenwood’s tournament and those season losses to Edgewood really challenged them to mentally and physically prepare as a team for what would become the game of the season. The Knights took the Wildcats by surprise handing them their first lost all season in a 3 set sweep (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) at the Montgomery Multiplex. The Knights dominated the floor, and kills from seniors Madisyn Kennedy and Ariel Brown were more than the talented Edgewood team could handle. With one final stroke from star athlete Kennedy, the Lady Knights’ celebration began as the team embraced and tears flowed freely. It was a special day for Coach Codi Moon, who took over the program last year with no prior volleyball experience. Emily Brooks (junior) and Ariel Brown (senior) were named to the all tournament team, while Madisyn Kennedy was selected as tournament MVP. Ariel Brown and senior teammate, Anne Turner Cobb would go on to represent Macon East the following Saturday in the AISA All-Star Volleyball game. The team loses seven seniors, but there is plenty of talent remaining on the volleyball court to keep Macon East in contention for 2019.

The 2018 Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award banquet was held May 3 at Frazer United Methodist Church. The objectives of the program are to recognize Christian leadership in athletics and to encourage and inspire others to emulate the man whose memory is perpetuated by this award. Since 1959, the Hitchcock Award has grown stronger each year in expressing the true Christian principles of the YMCA. The qualities of a Hitchcock nominee are strong personal character, dependability, 100% effort, team leadership, church leadership, school activities leadership, and scholastic leadership. Each Montgomery area school nominates senior athletes who possess these qualities. From this group of outstanding athletes, one female and one male are chosen to receive the coveted Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award.

This year’s nominees representing Macon East Academy were Logan Goree and Madison McKee. Logan is a three sport athlete who has lettered in football, basketball, and soccer. He was a member of both Macon East AISA AA state basketball championship teams. He also participated on the AISA All-Star team in both football and basketball. Madison is a two sport athlete at Macon East lettering in volleyball and softball. She helped lead this years team to recapture the AISA AA state title and will continue her softball career at Faulkner University.

Each year select freshmen are also recognized for their outstanding qualities in athletics, the classroom and community, as well as their potential to be future Hitchcock award nominees. Georgia Blaze and Tanner Moore were selected as Macon East’s freshman certificate winners for 2018. Georgia is a Knights cheerleader and plays volleyball, basketball, and softball. Tanner participates in football, basketball, baseball, and the fishing team.

When the AISA All-Metro Basketball honors were announced this year, Madisyn Kennedy’s selection as Player of the Year made her the reigning Player of the Year for 3 sports. Receiving player of the year honors for Volleyball in the fall and Softball last spring, she holds the title in all three of her sports. At guard/forward, Madisyn averaged 20 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and a 75% free throw percentage. In December, she surpassed the 1,000 career point mark leading the Lady Knights to the quarterfinals for a 3rd year. Overall Madisyn has 1,133 points and 693 rebounds in her career and has received two all-metro and all-state honors.

The AISA AA State Volleyball Champions received their state rings following an exciting 32-3 season. With a new coach, Codi Moon, and a loss to Coosa Valley in last year’s title game, the team was determined to work hard and reclaim the state title after a crushing end to their 5 year reign. With the 3 losses coming early in the season, the Lady Knights worked hard on and off the court to land in the final match of the year with rival school, Glenwood. In just 3 sets, the team defeated Glenwood and once again won the state championship, and these rings are proof that their grit and determination paid off.

The Lady Knights made a triumphal return to the AISA AA state tournament this year after a fall in last year’s championship game ending their 5 year streak on top. Under the leadership of head coach Codi Moon, the team’s motto “Grit” kept them fighting all season to get the trophy back. With a 32-3 season record, the teams’ losses came early in the year and inspired them to press on. With trophies from the Glenwood and Edgewood tournaments and an impressive season record, they went on to be crowned Area champs, Region champs and finally the AA State Champions. With four new starters on the court and Coach Moon as a first year head coach of the squad, the girls proved the Knights’ pre-season predictions wrong and earned their spot back at the state tournament. In Final Four play at Faulkner University, Macon East faced off with Lee-Scott Academy winning the match in 3 close sets. This set the stage for a state championship dual with the Glenwood Gators. Once again, the Lady Knights got it done in just three sets (25-16, 25-12, 25-9), taking back the AA title that had been taken from them in 2016 by Coosa Valley. AA State MVP, Madisyn Kennedy has led the team all year with 389 kills, 12 blocks, and 88 aces on the year. She reached a milestone of 500 career kills this season as a junior. Newcomer Ariel Brown had 289 kills, 37 blocks, and 60 aces in her first season at MEA and was also named to the AA state all-tournament team. Sophomore Emily Brooks has 502 assists this season alone, along with 267 kills and 163 aces. Emily was the youngest player named to the state all-tournament team. Anne Turner Cobb, also new to the team this year, had an impressive season with 422 assists, 173 kills, 77 aces, and 3 blocks. The Lady Knights will lose just two seniors, Madison McKee and Bailey Dees, next season and have an impressive group on the bench ready to continue the Knights run at the state tournament.

Macon-East Academy’s Sami Nesbitt was selected as the AISA All-Metro Volleyball player of the year. Sami is a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter and the Lady Knights only returning starter this season. Coming off their 5th consecutive state title, the team was facing an uphill battle with a new coach and the loss of their starting line up. Sami stepped forward as the senior leader of the team and finished the year with 130 kills. Sami led the Knights to a state runner-up finish in the AISA Class AA state championship match at Faulkner University and represented the team in the AISA All-Star game.

The Lady Knights ended their five year reign as state champions at last week’s finals at Faulkner University. With an outstanding season record of 20-4, all of the team’s losses came from one opponent. In the final match-up of the year, the Coosa Valley team edged out the Knights in a hard fought battle for the top spot. As the only returning starter, outside hitter and senior Sami Nesbitt stepped up to lead the team through a tough summer pre-season and coaching change. With two sophomores and one freshman rounding out the starting lineup, the Lady Knights will definitely be strong again next season. Sami Nesbitt and Bailey Williams were honored as members of the state all-tournament team, and Nesbitt will represent Macon East on the AISA East All-Star team this Saturday at the Montgomery Multiplex.

The five time state champion Lady Knights volleyball team received their championship rings at a recent home basketball game. They went undefeated in 2015 with a season record of 29-0 and a 76 match win streak. Seniors Lexi Brantley, Jesi Garrett, and Payton Traff will all play at the collegiate level next year. The team clenched their 5th consecutive AISA AA State Championship defeating Kingwood Christian (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) in the final game of the state tournament at Faulkner University.

Macon East senior, Payton Traff received a full scholarship to play volleyball next year at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Payton came to Macon East as a junior, and was an incredible asset to the Lady Knights team. In her two seasons at MEA, Payton amassed 606 assists, 221 kills, 106 aces, 62 digs, and 7 blocks. Coach Amanda Baubles said, “Payton always adapted well to whatever position she was asked to play and did an especially awesome job as a setter.” Payton was named to the All-Tournament team in the Region and State Tournaments in 2015. She was also named to Montgomery’s All-Metro AISA team.

Lexi Brantley made it official signing her letter of intent to play volleyball next season at Belhaven University. Blazers coach, Justin Dee is excited about the level of talent Lexi will contribute to next year’s team. A six year varsity player for the Lady Knights, Lexi and the Macon East team have won 5 straight AISA state championship titles. Lexi reached two major milestones this season racking up over 2,000 career assits and over 500 career aces. Lexi is more than a team leader on the volleyball court, she is an outstanding student, president of the SGA, MEA’s 2015 Homecoming queen, and an all around positive roll model at Macon East. Lexi is a leader at Macon East on and off the court, and we wish her all the best at Belhaven.

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